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Matthew 5:14-16
"You are the light of the world." Not you are the light of your home, city, county, region, country, but of the whole world. Do not get me wrong, we are in fact the light of all the places just listed. We can be the light of our home, city, county, region, country. But to put things into perspective...Jesus tells us we are the light of the world. Do you think it is because if He had said "You are the light of the city you live in" then we would not care about the rest of the world? I do. I think that we have taken our God and manipulated Him. We try to find ways around reaching the world. "Well I was not called to missions." Yes you were, and are. Everday we are in a battle to try and make believers out of our schools, workplaces, and communities. Just because you are not in a foreign country trying to learn a different language and living in third world conditions, does not mean that you are not a missionary. The education system is the largest mission field in the world.

Let's use an analogy for v. 14-16. This analogy that Jesus gives is amazing, but I want to incorporate v16 in with it. A lighthouse is a more common example, especially here in NC where the coast is lined with beautiful towers. A lighthouse was used in the past, and still some today, to guide ships at night. They could not see land from afar and would risk the chance of running aground. They are so bright you can see them from miles away. This is what we are meant to be...so bright that everyone can see us. And just as 16 says, our good deeds need to shine. Not so that we are boasting about what we have done, but rather so that we can be used by God to guide others to his saving grace.